Peninsula Pilots Report

On the Beat

June 03, 1990|By DAVE JOHNSON Columnist

INSTRUCTOR CRUZ CRUISES AROUND HAMPTON ROADS

Julio Cruz, a Seattle Mariners' minor league instructor, took a long and expensive tour of Hampton Roads Wednesday. After arriving at Norfolk International Airport, Cruz told the cab driver he wanted to be taken to the Fairfield Inn. Problem was, Peninsula Pilots General Manager John Tull thought Cruz was flying into Patrick Henry Airport in Newport News and made reservations at the Fairfield Inn in Hampton. The cabbie instead took Cruz to the Fairfield Inn in Virginia Beach. Then, once realizing he was staying in Hampton, Cruz was delayed about an hour going through the (of course) Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The cab fare: $60. Cruz ended up missing the Pilots' double-header against Durham. "If I didn't love this game so damn much," Cruz said, laughing, "I would have turned around and gone home." ... Cruz has been working with the Pilots since his arrival, concentrating on bunting techniques. "Once I arrive, the manager tells me what area needs touching on, and I take it from there," Cruz said.

* `QUISENBARBARA'

The Pilots' most effective pitcher in Friday night's double-header debacle against Winston-Salem was catcher-turned-reliever Dan Barbara. After three Peninsula pitchers had given up 19 runs and 20 hits in 11 innings, Barbara made an unexpected appearance and pitched hitless ball in the final three frames of the second game. With a side-arm delivery, Barbara walked three, struck out two and gave up only an unearned run. "Maybe they were tired of swinging by then," pitching coach Ross Grimsley joked. Manager Jim Nettles called his ace fireman "Quisenbarbara," as in former Kansas City Royal submariner Dan Quisenberry. Will Barbara pitch again? "He may go tomorrow if his arm isn't hurting," Grimsley said. ... Nettles and Grimsley had few pitching options because the Pilots were playing the second of three double-headers in a four-day span. The War Memorial Stadium crowd, which screamed at Nettles to make pitching change after pitching change, clearly didn't comprehend that. ... Infielder Lem Pilkinton will miss games today and Monday to attend the funeral of his grandfather in Nashville, Tenn. Pilkinton will join his teammates in Woodbridge against Prince William.

* NOTES

Catcher Jim Campanis, who has missed 17 games because of a dislocated finger on his catching hand, said a doctor told him Friday that the finger would require a year before it would fully heal. Campanis was placed on the disabled list retroactive to May 20. "It was sort of a blessing in disguise," said Campanis, batting .178. "The mental state I was in at the time wasn't the best." ... Peinsula's hottest player lately has been Jesus Tavarez, who was 3-for-8 and drove in two runs in Friday's double-header. Tavarez, who Nettles calls the fastest man in the Seattle organization, was 8-for-22 (.364) during the homestand entering Saturday's double-header against Winston-Salem. Add in some sparkling catches in center field.